Dr Pepper is making good on it’s promise of free soda now that the release of GUNS N ROSES’ Chinese Democracy is a reality.

The soft-drink maker said in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped in 2008. Chinese Democracy, infamously delayed since recording began in 1994, goes on sale Sunday.

“We never thought this day would come,” Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper’s vice president of marketing, said in a statement. “But now that it’s here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper’s on us.”

Beginning Sunday at 12:01 AM, coupons for a free 20-ounce soda will be available for 24 hours on Dr Pepper’s website. They’ll be honored until February 28th.

At nearly nine minutes in length, November Rain is Guns N’ Roses longest song. This was released on the Use Your Illusion album. The video features model and former Axl Rose girlfriend Stephanie Seymour.

Guns N’ Roses will be world premiering their long-awaited Chinese Democracy on their MySpace page tonight at 12AM EST. The album will be hitting Best Buy stores exclusively on November 23rd. The band leaked a new song, “Better,” earlier this week and the title track single is all over radio.

The song Patience is off of Guns N’ Roses, 1988 EP, G N’R Lies. The ending of the video has Axl Rose sitting on the couch watching old Guns N’ Roses videos. Somehow with Chinese Democracy taking thirteen years to release, I wonder if he did this quite a bit.

Guns N’ Roses have just released a new song off their upcoming Chinese Democracy album. “Better” is a melodic-rocker with infectious background vocals, sweeping guitar licks, and some of the hookiest melodies Axl Rose has woven together since the band’s early days.

This week at HRH, we are counting down the release of Guns N’ Roses long awaited Chinese Democracy CD, which hits Best Buy stores next Sunday. We will be posting Guns N’ Roses videos all week long to celebrate the arrival of Chinese Democracy.

“Welcome to the Jungle” was the very first single and video released by Guns N’ Roses on their debut record “Appetite for Destruction”.

Guns N’ Roses premiered a new commercial teaser for Chinese Democracy during Saturday Night Live over the weekend. The 30 spot features the recently released title track and information about the album pre-sale. The teaser will run again tonight during Monday Night Football which airs on ESPN at 8:15 P.M. EST.

Chinese Democracy will be out November 23rd through Black Frog/Geffen Records.

Guns N’ Roses have just released a new widget which has a countdown to the November 23rd release date of their long-delayed Chinese Democracy album. The widget also features an audio stream of the title-track new single.

According to Billboard.com, Guns N’ Roses fans thirsting for the upcoming “Chinese Democracy” will have a sweet, fizzy treat to savor as they listen.

Dr Pepper is making good on a prior promise to provide every person in America a can of the soft drink if the album were to arrive in 2008, and yesterday (Oct. 22) revealed details of the plan.

“We never thought this day would come,” says Dr Pepper VP of marketing Tony Jacobs. “But now that it’s here all we can say is: The Dr Pepper’s on us.”

Interested fans are being asked to visit DrPepper.com on Nov. 23, the day “Chinese Democracy” is released in the U.S. exclusively via Best Buy. After registering online, fans will receive a coupon redeemable for a 20-oz. Dr Pepper wherever the drink is sold.

The twist: the coupon is only available for 24 hours and will expire on Feb. 28.

One of the most highly anticipated albums in rock history, the long-awaited Chinese Democracy (Black Frog/Geffen Records) will be available globally on November 23 on CD and vinyl (accompanied by a free digital download of the tracks), and as a separate digital album.

Produced by Axl Rose and Caram Costanzo, Chinese Democracy includes 14 tracks. The title track and first single from the album, “Chinese Democracy”, was released to radio at 5:00AM eastern time today. Two of the recordings have been recently released–“Shackler’s Revenge” debuted September 14 in the “Rock Band 2” videogame and “If The World” debuted October 11 in the film Body Of Lies.

“The release of Chinese Democracy marks a historic moment in rock ‘n’ roll,” said Irving Azoff and Andy Gould, Guns N’ Roses’ co-managers, “and we’re launching with a monumental campaign that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself. Guns N’ Roses fans have every reason to celebrate, for this is only the beginning.”

DC4 vocalist/guitarist Jeff Duncan recently cut guitar tracks for a new ‘Dizzy Reed’ solo project. Jeff performs on the track ‘Mother Theresa’. Many know the name ‘Dizzy Reed’ as the keyboardist for ‘Guns & Roses’ and his super group ‘Hooker’s N Blow’. It was recently announced that the long awaited Gn’R release, ‘Chinese Democracy’, will see a release on November 23rd through an exclusive deal with Best Buy.

Jeff Duncan is a current member of ‘Armored Saint’ and a founding member of ‘Odin and DC4’. Jeff Duncan is an exceptional guitar player who also showcases his vocal talent as the frontman for DC4. As previously mentioned, DC4 signed on with Chavis Records for the release of ‘EXPLODE’. The released has been pushed back to January 2009. “We all decided that we wanted to add a little more substance to the official release. We are finishing up a video shoot as well as heading back into the studio to record a few new ‘bonus tracks’.” says Jeff.

More than a decade after its conception, Guns N’ Roses’ “Chinese Democracy” will finally see the light of day before year’s end, sources close to the situation confirms to Billboard. As first reported here, the set will be a Best Buy exclusive and will be available Sunday, Nov. 23, rather than the usual Tuesday.

Beyond enticing pre-Thanksgiving shoppers, the move is tied to the structure of Best Buy’s sales week, which runs from Sunday to Saturday. As such, “Chinese Democracy” would not be eligible to chart on The Billboard 200 until the week of Dec. 1, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

In the run-up to release date, album track “Shackler’s Revenge” will debut in the video game “Rock Band 2,” while a portion of “If the World” is playing over the end credits in the new Leonardo DiCaprio/Russell Crowe film “Body of Lies.”

In addition, GNR’s seminal 1987 debut, “Appetite for Destruction,” will be reissued on vinyl on Oct. 28 via Interscope.

The band’s last new studio albums were the simultaneously released “Use Your Illusion I” and “II” in September 1991. A covers set, “The Spaghetti Incident?,” followed in 1993, and featured some of the last GNR recordings from original guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan.

As reported by BIllboard.com, Best Buy is set to be the exclusive retailer for Guns N’ Roses decade-plus-in-the-making new album “Chinese Democracy” before year’s end, sources close to the situation tell Billboard. Some details of the deal are still being worked out, including the release date.

The news brings a semblance of closure to the bizarre history of “Democracy,” which Guns N’ Roses has been working on since the mid-1990s. Since then, every original member of the once mighty group has left besides vocalist Axl Rose, and millions of dollars have been spent working on the new material.

“Democracy” was most recently on the Interscope release schedule in March 2007. The endless delays encountered by the project reached comic levels this spring, when soft drink manufacturer Dr Pepper offered to send a free can of the beverage to “everyone in America” (excluding ex-GNR members Slash and Buckethead) if “Chinese Democracy” were to arrive anytime during the calendar year 2008.

In June, nine purported “mastered, finished” tracks from the album were leaked online, prompting an FBI investigation into their source. A sign “Chinese Democracy” was perhaps finally nearing release came in July, when the band agreed to debut new track “Shackler’s Revenge” in the video game “Rock Band 2,” which hit stores earlier this month.

Guns N’ Roses is now managed by Irving Azoff’s Front Line Management, and Azoff is a well-known proponent of issuing albums exclusively through retailers. He released the Eagles’ “Long Road Out of Eden” through Wal-Mart in 2007, much to the chagrin of other merchants, but the album was a runaway hit, having sold 3.1 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Blabbermouth.net is reporting that WARRIOR SOUL, the band fronted by legendary singer Kory Clarke, is the latest act to announce (jokingly or not) that it has selected “Chinese Democracy” — the name of the perennially delayed new GUNS N’ ROSES LP — as the title of its new album. The CD will be available exclusively at shows on WARRIOR SOUL’s forthcoming U.S. tour, which begins on October 16 at the Double Door in Chicago, Illinois.

WARRIOR SOUL’s “Chinese Democracy” will receive its retail release in January. UK fans will also have an opportunity to buy the album at shows during WARRIOR SOUL’s UK tour in December.

This is the first WARRIOR SOUL studio album to include the new lineup featuring;

Recorded and written over a five-week period in Stockholm, Sweden and in the UK, WARRIOR SOUL’s “Chinese Democracy” was produced by Clarke, Lundell and Jarvis.

Stated Clarke: “I’m really proud of this album. It’s been great to make another WARRIOR SOUL record and this line up is the best I’ve ever had.” He continued, “People have been waiting for a long time to hear this record and I’m thrilled to finally release ‘Chinese Democracy‘.”

Co-producer and bassist Janne Jarvis had this to say: “This is an exciting, vital collection of songs. It’s unadulterated and uncompromising. It is essential WARRIOR SOUL.”

WARRIOR SOUL’s current lineup has successfully toured Europe over the last two years and reports from both fans and media suggest that this is the band’s strongest formation yet.

Video footage of WARRIOR SOUL performing the song “Let’s Get Wasted” at Ace of Clubs in New York City on May 31, 2008 can be viewed below. The show marked WARRIOR SOUL’s first American concert in twelve years.

WARRIOR SOUL released a live album on April 14, 2008 through Livewire/Cargo Records. Entitled “Live In England”, the CD was recorded in London during the band’s October 2007 tour.

“Live In England” features many of the classic songs from the “Last Decade Dead Century”, “Drugs, God And The New Republic”, “Salutations From The Ghetto Nation”, “Space Age Playboys” and “Chill Pill” albums as well as a brand new song entitled “Bad News (Rock ‘n’ Roll Boyfriend)”.

Trains have been a popular subject in Hard Rock for years. In 1974, “Train Kept a Rollin” for Aerosmith“, In 1980, Ozzy Osbourne gave us the “Crazy Train”, 1987 brought us Guns ‘N Roses‘ “Nightrain“. In 1989 Badlands offered up “Rumblin’ Train“, in 1997 Judas Priest unleashed “Bullet Train” and in 2006, Black Stone Cherry gave us “Lonely Train“.

By now I am sure you have heard AC/DC’s new single “Rock ‘N Roll Train“. It has been a hot topic on the internet. It is getting airplay on radio stations everywhere. What do you think of the new song? Will you buy AC/DC’s new CD Black Ice?!

According to an arrest affidavit, Cogill admitted to agents that he posted the songs on his Web site.

“Chinese Democracy” has been in the works for more than a decade, with frontman Axl Rose the only remaining original member of the once mighty group. Rumblings that the album may finally be out this fall, possibly as a Best Buy exclusive, have not been confirmed by Guns N’ Roses or its management.

Billboard.com is reporting that the June leak of nine allegedly “mastered, finished” tracks from Guns N’ Roses’ long-delayed “Chinese Democracy” spurred a renewed round of chatter about whether the Axl Rose-led band will finally release the 14-years-in-the-making album.

But some concrete signs are finally emerging that the album’s release could be imminent. That’s because, according to sources, negotiations are underway for “Chinese Democracy” to come out as an exclusive at one of the big boxes — either Wal-Mart or Best Buy.

Negotiations are also ongoing to have conventional record company distribution, another source says.

Guns N’ Roses is now managed by Irving Azoff’s Front Line Management, and Azoff is a well-known proponent of issuing albums exclusively through retailers. He released the Eagles’ “Long Road Out of Eden” through Wal-Mart, much to the chagrin of other merchants.

Most recently, it became known that AC/DC’s next album will come out exclusively through Wal-Mart. Merchants were particularly incensed that the deal was apparently struck with the blessing of Columbia.

Representatives at Front Line and Interscope with knowledge of the situation couldn’t be reached for comment by deadline. A Wal-Mart representative says the chain couldn’t confirm this fall’s exclusives. Best Buy representatives couldn’t be reached for comment by deadline.

HRH Comment: Wal-Mart ought to package this CD with a space heater. Hell will have frozen over before this disc comes out.

Los Angeles- Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler has been arrested in Hollywood for alleged drug possession.Los Angeles police spokesman Richard French says the 43-year-old Adler was arrested around 4 a.m. Friday by officers called to a home where a man reportedly was creating a disturbance and refusing to leave.

Adler was booked for investigation of possessing narcotics, being under the influence and for an outstanding warrant.

He was jailed on $45,000 bail.

Adler has a long history of drug use. He performed on the early Guns N’ Roses albums but was later fired.

After weeks of online speculation suggesting the band was on the brink of collapse, the founding members of Velvet Revolver — guitarists Slash and Dave Kushner, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum — officially sent lead singer Scott Weiland packing Tuesday. The rumors of a Velvet Revolver split began soon after Weiland’s onstage announcement two weeks ago — during a gig in Glasgow, Scotland — that the crowd in attendance that evening were witnessing something very special: the last-ever Velvet Revolver tour.Velvet Revolver announced their decision to fire Weiland in a press release issued just as the rockers were playing the last notes of their final performance with the Stone Temple Pilots frontman in Amsterdam. Slash sited Weiland’s lack of commitment, “increasingly erratic onstage behavior and personal problems” as reasons for the dismissal. There is still no word on whether the band plans to continue with a new singer.Surprisingly, an entire night passed without Weiland responding — but really, it wasn’t a question of if he would issue his own retort, but when. In an e-mail sent exclusively to MTV News Wednesday morning, Weiland fired back at his erstwhile bandmates, and pulled no punches in his attack of the Revolver.”After reading the comment by Duff, Matt, Dave and the illustrious ‘Guitar Hero,’ Saul Hudson, a.k.a. Slash, I find it humorous that the so-called four ‘founding members’ of Velvet Revolver, better known to themselves as ‘the Project’ before I officially named the band, would decide to move on without me after I had already claimed the group dead in the water on March 20 in Glasgow,” Weiland explained. “In response to Slash’s comment regarding my commitment [to the band], I have to say it is a blatant and tired excuse to cover up the truth. The truth of the matter is that the band had not gotten along on multiple levels for some time. On a musical level, there were moments of joy, inspiration, fun … at times. But let’s not forget the multiple trips to rehab every member of the band had taken (with the exception of one member — no need to mention his name).

“Personally speaking, I choose to look forward to the future and performing with a group of friends I have known my entire life, people who have always had my back,” Weiland continued. “This also speaks to my commitment to my music and my fellow bandmates in [Stone Temple Pilots] and to the fans who I feel would much rather watch a group of musicians who enjoy being together as opposed to a handful of discontents who at one time used to call themselves a gang.”

In conclusion, Weiland warned fans not to be “fooled by veiled trickery,” and even wished Velvet Revolver his best. “Good hunting, lads — I think Sebastian Bach would be a fantastic choice.”

Now, Weiland will turn his energies to the re-formed Stone Temple Pilots, who are expected to reveal details of a full-scale summer tour during a news conference next week. As for Velvet Revolver’s future, Slash has said in a number of recent interviews that there would be a third LP from the band, and that Weiland’s characterization of the band’s European tour as its last was simply untrue.

PLANO, Texas, March 26 /PRNewswire/ — Tired of a world in which Americans idolize wannabe singers and musicals about high schoolers pass as rock ‘n roll music, Dr Pepper is encouraging (ok, begging) Axl Rose to finally release his 17-year-in-the-making belabored masterpiece, Chinese Democracy, in 2008.

In an unprecedented show of solidarity with Axl, everyone in America, except estranged GNR guitarists Slash and Buckethead, will receive a free can of Dr Pepper if the album ships some time — anytime! — in 2008. Dr Pepper supports Axl, and fully understands that sometimes you have to make it through the jungle before you get it right.

“It took a little patience to perfect Dr Pepper’s special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love,” said Jaxie Alt, director of marketing for Dr Pepper. “So we completely understand and empathize with Axl’s quest for perfection — for something more than the average album. We know once it’s released, people will refer to it as “Dr Pepper for the ears” because it will be such a refreshing blend of rich, bold sounds — an instant classic.”

I first heard about Hell N’ Diesel earlier this summer. One listen to the track Miss Cocaine, and I knew that I had to hear more tunes from this band.

Passion For Power is the debut release for this Swedish five piece band.

Hell N’ Diesel has a sound that I would describe as one part Skid Row, another part Guns ‘N Roses, and maybe a dash of Motley Crue and Shotgun Messiah. Even though their sound may represent some of the bigger bands of the late 80’s, I can tell you that Passion For Power is a record that delivers big!

Passion for Power is the kind of album that you want to turn on, and crank the volume up on!

Sweet Sister is a song full of attitude, sleaze and a huge guitar sound. This is the way you open up an album. Awesome!

Any song that has you breaking out the air guitar is usually a good omen. You Shook Me made me break out the Air Les Paul. This is another fun, and upbeat song.

J. Sledge has a guitar sound that mimics Slash heavily on the tune Crosses. This is another catchy, foot tapping good song. Sexual Suicide is sleazy good fun, and another great party rock tune. Fallin’ is a power ballad of massive proportions. Every glam related radio station will be playing this song before long.

Miss Cocaine is a heavy Skid Row type of rocker that is one of the many highlights on this disc. I liked this song the first time I heard it. Wow!…..Attitude flat out kicks ass!This song has a sleazy cock rock feel to it.This is one of my favorites on this record.

S.O.Y.L. or Speed of Your Love, if you prefer, is a song that borrow some elements from Motley Crue, but I don’t care. This song rocks! Love Me Hard has a killer groove and a good beat. This song has a definite 80’s hard rock feel to it, but it is quite infectious.

Ride Away is a sleazy rocker that immediately bring Guns ‘N Roses, Appetite For Destruction to mind. Headbanging is not optional with this track. Sweat It is a ballsy tune that flat out rocks. What a way to close out this disc!

I am a fan of 80’s glam rock, so without question, I love Passion For Power. There are a ton of good hard rock / glam records in 2007. Passion For Power is one of the better ones.

One of my recent re-acquistions was the debut CD by Kik Tracee, No Rules.

This CD was produced by Slaughter’s Dana Strum. Not surprisingly, the band sounds like Slaughter, and at times a little like Guns ‘N Roses.

Steven Shareaux is a good singer, and has a sound that is somewhat unique. The band is quite solid as well.

No Rules is a CD that was a little better than some of the other offerings by many of the hard rock bands in the early 90’s. This CD, like many, was released to late in the game, and crashed and burned when Nirvana hit the music scene. The band hung around and released an EP in 1992 but then broke up and has not been heard from since.

Some of the stand out cuts on this disc are You’re So Strange, Trash City, Velvet Crush and the cover of the Paul Simon classic Mrs. Robinson.

Fans of 80’s hard rock are going to love No Rules! You can get low cost used copies of this CD at Amazon.com. Go grab one before they are all gone! You can hear more songs at Kik Tracee’s myspace page here.

The new Velvet Revolver is here!With the new release “Libertad”, hopefully people will treat this as a Velvet Revolver disc and stop the comparisons to Guns ‘N Roses.

The major question people are asking is, has the band gone into a sophomore slump, or does “Libertad” surpass the debut release “Contraband”.

I have listened to “Contraband” quite a bit, and believe “Libertad” surpasses the first disc, and has more potential for hits than its predecessor. “Libertad” however is a grower. I didn’t get into it completely on the first listen. Some of the songs definitely get better with repeated listening.

The first single seems like an odd choice to me. There are more infectious songs that “She Builds Quick” machines on this disc.

She Builds Quick Machines

I actually think the opening cut, “Let it Roll” is a better song. It is a heavier track with superb guitar work and a great bass groove. “She Mine” is another song that is really growing on me.

My early favorite off of this disc is “Get Out the Door“. This is song is quite infectious, and has an awesome beat. “Pill, Demons & Etc.” is also very catchy. Slash’s playing on this track is excellent. I am betting that “American Man” is going to get a lot of radio airplay before the end of 2007. I like this song a lot.

“The Last Fight” almost has a Tom Petty style about it. This song is about as close to “Fall to Pieces” as you are going to get on “Libertad“. This song has radio hit written all over it.

I will admit that there are a couple of songs that I didn’t care for. The Album closer “Gravedancer” sounds closer to the Rolling Stones, and this country flavored rock doesn’t work for me. The song “Spay” was a little too noisy for my tastes.

The cover of the Jeff Lynne penned ELO track, “Can’t Get it Out of My Head” seems out of place too.

The music on this disc is probably more likeSTPthanGuns ‘N Roses. “Libertad” should bring Velvet Revolver continued success well into 2008. It is another solid offering by these hard rock veterans!

You can find more info on Velvet Revolver at the band’s myspace page or at their website here.

Rating: Out of 10

Track Listing:1. Let It Roll
2. She Mine
3. Get Out The Door
4. She Builds Quick Machines
5. The Last Fight
6. Pills, Demons & Etc.
7. American Man
8. Mary Mary Listen
9. Just Sixteen
10. Can’t Get It Out Of My Head
11. For A Brother
12. Spay
13. Gravedancer
14. Re-Evolution